Monday, March 18, 2013
State Rep. Jeff Farrington (R-Utica) has joined a bipartisan coalition to introduce legislation that prevents diversion of voter-approved millages to other purposes.
A package of legislation aimed at protecting voter-approved millages for the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has been introduced in Lansing by a group of Democrats and Republicans from the tri-county area. A number of communities, such as Wyandotte, Dearborn, Northville, and Plymouth Township, have redirected revenue raised from the zoo and DIA millages to support specific development districts within their city limits. “We are trying to restore the intent of voters,” said State Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak). Townsend is joined by Reps. Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Harold Haugh (D-Roseville), Gail Haines (R-Waterford), Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) and Speaker Pro Tempore John Walsh (R-…
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The 2012 approval of a millage to help support the museum "was an amazing statement on regionalism," DIA chief operating officer Annmarie Erickson said recently, despite many area communities, like Shelby Township, rejecting the measure.
Regionalism was the word of the day recently when the Detroit Institute of Arts announced which suburban communities would host Inside|Out installations this spring and summer. Shelby Township and Utica were among the 25 communities selected to host reproductions of the museum's masterpieces as part of the 2013 program, which will be the first since a millage to help support the DIA was passed in August. Voters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to help cover the museum's operating costs. In return, tri-county residents will receive free admission to the DIA for the next decade. Incidentally, the millage failed by 588 votes in Shelby Township, but passed by 64 votes in Utica. While the …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Here are some of the displays that residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county can now see for free at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
After tri-county voters passed the DIA millage in the election yesterday, the Detroit Insititue of Arts wants to make sure that residents get their money's worth. “When we announced that we would seek the millage, we pledged that if it were to pass we would provide free admission to residents of all three counties. We are immediately following through on that pledge," said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director, in a press release. Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority, so admission is now free to residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb county residents. Here are some of the special exhibits that residents can see: A painting by Johannes Vermeer on loan from the National Gallery of Art in …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Detroit Institute of Arts millage passed in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties on Tuesday.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, anyone in the tri-county area can visit the Detroit Institute of Arts for free. The former admission fee has been tossed to the wind thanks to voters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties passing the Arts Authority Millage, more commonly known as the DIA millage, on Tuesday. Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority. “We feel wonderful,” said Annmarie Erickson, the DIA’s chief operating officer. “We want to thank voters throughout the area with coming out for such a strong showing of support. We are so deeply appreciative of the work of our staff and volunteers and everyone who got behind this campaign and pushed it forward to a successful completion.” A Party …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
'The case for the DIA millage is compelling . . . for future growth in the arts and the economy. That is pretty good return for about $15 per year.'
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This viewpoint essay by Birmingham area photographer Rod Arroyo, who's also a certified planner and design consultant, is reposted with permission from his blog at cityphotosandbooks.com. Voters in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties will be asked Aug. 7 to approve 0.2 mils for 10 years, which is approximately $15 per year for every $150,000 of a home’s fair market value. This money will go to provide one of many sources of funding needed to support a world-class art museum: the Detroit Institute of Arts. As the vote nears for the Arts Millage in southeast Michigan, I feel compelled to share some of my thoughts. The Detroit Institute of Arts is an irreplaceable resource that brings incredible works of art, film, music, and so much more to …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tri-county proposals spur debates over Detroit-suburbs ties, museum finances and property tax levels.
Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh and Diego Rivera are among candidates for local support in Metro Detroit's Aug. 7 primary elections. A millage request by the Detroit Institute of Arts – the museum displaying their art – will be on ballots in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Each county's elected commissioners this spring approved language for a 0.2-mill proposal to support the DIA as a regional resource. In addition to nominating candidates for congressional, state, county and local offices on Primary Day, voters will be asked to answer that yes-or-no DIA tax question. An impassioned debate has begun to intensify, as it always does when property taxes and city-suburban relations are involved. The political landscape also is shaped by …
Mark
8:59 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
'Fraid not Madame. The last time I posted on here (most recent comment to you excluded) was nine days ago. You have been blathering all over the place ever since. more ›